Has Heifer Retention Begun To Rebuild The Cowherd?

It’s the Ranch It Up Radio Show Herd It Here Weekly Report!  A 3-minute look at cattle markets, reports, news info, or anything that has to do with those of us who live at the end of dirt roads.  Join Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt, the Boss Lady Rebecca Wanner aka 'BEC' by subscribing on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel. Early Signals Of Herd Rebuilding Emerge USDA Economist Justin Benavidez says the cattle cycle remains a reliable guidepost, even as producers debate what’s really happening on the ground. “The cattle profitability is all based on the cycle… looking back over over 100 years, the U.S. cattle cycle is a very well-documented phenomenon.” He said that while opinions vary widely, he points to gradual trends in the data as the clearest indicator. “What the data is telling us in that pattern over time, is that we’re seeing the earliest indicators of a herd rebuild… a slight retention in heifer uptick year over year.” Even so, he acknowledges uncertainty remains. He said he hears how people are very passionate on both sides of whether we're not retaining heifers, or we are retaining heifers, and USDA data, he says… is not telling the full story.” Even so, he continued that year-over-year trends still offer the best directional signal for where the industry is headed. REFERENCE: https://westerniowatoday.com/2026/04/30/408339/ https://www.oklahomafarmreport.com/2026/05/01/usdas-justin-benavidez-early-signs-of-herd-rebuild-emerging-in-u-s-cattle-market/\ Upcoming Feeder Cattle, Bull & Cow Sales On RanchChannel.Com Lots of feeder cattle, steers & heifers, bulls, and cow sales coming up on the RanchChannel.Com sale calendar.  Check out the full line up HERE. SPONSORS Jorgensen Land & Cattle https://jorgensenfarms.com/ @JorLandCat Ranch Channel https://ranchchannel.com/ @RanchChannel Questions & Concerns From The Field? Call or Text your questions, or comments to 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420 Or email [email protected] FOLLOW Facebook/Instagram: @RanchItUpShow SUBSCRIBE to the Ranch It Up YouTube Channel: @ranchitup Website: RanchItUpShow.com https://ranchitupshow.com/ The Ranch It Up Podcast is available on ALL podcasting apps. https://ranchitup.podbean.com/ Rural America is center-stage on this outfit. AND how is that? Because of Tigger & BEC... Live This Western Lifestyle. Tigger & BEC represent the Working Ranch world by providing the cowboys, cowgirls, beef cattle producers & successful farmers the knowledge and education needed to bring high-quality beef & meat to your table for dinner. Learn more about Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner aka BEC here: TiggerandBEC.com https://tiggerandbec.com/